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Government Security IT

NSA Declassifies Memo About Failed TRAILBLAZER Project 15

decora writes "Ellen Nakashima of the Washington Post reports that the NSA has just declassified one of the 5 documents NSA whistleblower Thomas Andrews Drake was charged under the Espionage Act for retaining in his basement. The document, which Drake previously faced years in prison for possessing, is essentially a cheerleading memo, complimenting the Trailblazer project team for a great presentation and demo. It stands in stark contrast to numerous other reports that described the NSA IT project as an overbudget, ineffective, billion dollar seven year boondoggle."
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NSA Declassifies Memo About Failed TRAILBLAZER Project

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  • false dichotomy? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Kozz ( 7764 ) on Tuesday July 24, 2012 @08:30AM (#40747735)

    From TFS:

    The document, which Drake previously faced years in prison for possessing, is essentially a cheerleading memo, complimenting the Trailblazer project team for a great presentation and demo. It stands in stark contrast to numerous other reports that described the NSA IT project as an overbudget, ineffective, billion dollar seven year boondoggle.

    (emphasis mine)

    I don't see why it can't be both. I think maybe it's a combination of poor management and cognitive dissonance that leads some to cheer the loudest for projects even if they're failing hard. I think we've probably all seen this phenomenon.

  • Normal? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by mseeger ( 40923 ) on Tuesday July 24, 2012 @08:42AM (#40747831)

    I think 90+% of all failed projects started with a great presentation. Bad presentations don't start projects ;-).

And it should be the law: If you use the word `paradigm' without knowing what the dictionary says it means, you go to jail. No exceptions. -- David Jones

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